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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






2. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






3. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






4. A composition written for nine instruments.






5. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






6. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






7. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






8. The movement of chords in succession.






9. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






10. The highest female voice.






11. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






12. A short light musical drama.






13. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






14. The distance in pitch between two notes.






15. Lowest female singing voice.






16. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






17. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






18. A direction to play expressively.






19. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.






20. Repetition of a single tone.






21. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






22. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






23. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






24. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






25. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






26. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






27. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






28. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






29. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






30. A symbol indicating to play loud.






31. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






32. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






33. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






34. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






35. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






36. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






37. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






38. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






39. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






40. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






41. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






42. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






43. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






44. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






45. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






46. Originally an improvised cadence by a soloist. Later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer.






47. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.






48. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






49. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






50. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.